Rafael Nadal rolls back the years, beats Team Andy Murray in exhibition match
Rafael Nadal turned back the clock in the most fitting of settings, returning to a tennis court in front of his home crowd and helping Team Nadal beat Team Murray 4-3 in a nostalgic exhibition at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.
The event on Saturday marked the academy's 10th anniversary and gave Nadal his first taste of competitive-looking tennis since his retirement in 2024. Nearly 2,000 fans gathered to watch the 22-time Grand Slam champion share the court with Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini, Marat Safin, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet.
There was no singles showdown between Nadal and Murray. Instead, the eight legends were divided into two teams and competed in doubles, with every match decided by a 10-point super tie-break. Nadal's team featured Moya, Ferrer and Gasquet, while Murray was joined by Thiem, Fognini and Safin.NADAL TURNS BACK THE CLOCK
The afternoon began with Moya and Gasquet producing a statement start for Team Nadal, crushing Fognini and Safin 10-0. Murray and Thiem then hit back, edging Nadal and Ferrer 10-9 before Thiem and Fognini defeated Ferrer and Gasquet 10-8 to put Team Murray ahead. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal Academy (@rafanadalacademy)
One of the loudest moments of the afternoon came when Nadal teamed up with Gasquet against Murray and Safin. The Spaniard looked every bit the crowd favourite he had been for two decades, helping his side sweep to another 10-0 victory.
The momentum shifted again when Moya and Ferrer beat Thiem and Safin 10-8, leaving the teams level heading into the decisive contest.
Nadal and Moy then faced Murray and Fognini, with the latter pair winning 10-7 to force an additional deciding tie-break. With the same four players back on court, Nadal and Moya produced when it mattered most, winning 7-5 to seal a 4-3 victory for Team Nadal.A NIGHT OF NOSTALGIA IN MANACOR
The score, however, was almost secondary.
For Nadal, the real victory was simply being back on court. The Spaniard had admitted before the event that he expected to be nowhere close to his competitive level, but the occasion still brought flashes of the tennis that made him one of the greatest players in history. There were powerful exchanges, trademark intensity and moments when the old Nadal appeared again. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal Academy (@rafanadalacademy)
The atmosphere reflected that sentiment. This was less a serious exhibition and more a reunion of a golden generation of tennis, with former rivals and friends sharing jokes, memories and the court in Manacor. The sold-out event was designed as the centrepiece of the academy's 10th-anniversary celebrations, with entertainment and other activities surrounding the tennis.
Murray's presence made the occasion even more special. Their rivalry produced 24 meetings between 2007 and 2016, with Nadal winning 17, and the two were part of the era's celebrated Big Four alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Nearly two years after Nadal's final professional appearance, the Spaniard once again walked onto a tennis court in front of his people, racket in hand. And for one nostalgic evening, Rafa was back where he belonged β competing, smiling and winning.- Ends
